Trump tariffs threaten U.S.-MENA films, Arab producers warn
Abu Dhabi, in particular, has been a major location for blockbusters including the “Mission: Impossible” series and “Dune: Part 2"
Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
A billboard promoting "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning"
U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed new 100% tariffs on films made “in foreign lands” could disrupt productions already underway in the MENA region, as well as hurting plans to attract more American projects, according to Arab producers and filmmakers.
“As a producer who has spent years bridging Hollywood and Abu Dhabi, I’ve seen first-hand how international collaboration strengthens the industry creatively and economically,” Qais Qandil, the Jordanian founder of The Film Makers, an Emirati production company, told The National.
“It may complicate my immediate plans to bring more U.S. projects to the region.” Countries including the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia offer generous tax incentives to attract international productions.
Abu Dhabi, in particular, has been a major location for blockbusters including the “Mission: Impossible” series and “Dune: Part 2.”
Qandil said U.S. productions also chose Middle East locations for their world-class infrastructure and cinematic value, not just the incentives.
“It could discourage the very partnerships that have made modern filmmaking thrive,” he said.